Tag: memoir

Six Days in Detox by Dianne Corbeau Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Dianne Corbeau shares an honest and painful story of her battle to regain her sobriety in the book “Six Days in Detox”. 

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The Synopsis

This memoir is a compelling story about a woman who picks up alcohol after twenty-six years of sobriety. And returns to a mental institution to begin her journey back into the beginnings of recovery. The story is a hard look at what goes on internally and externally inside of Dianne as she gives it her all to survive the battle for her life. The fast-paced read is relentless and unforgiving at times, yet it brings you the fragility of the human spirit.

The Review

This was a heartfelt and honest read that depicted the author’s internal struggle to find sobriety once again after relapsing after over two decades. The author not only shares her story with complete honesty and an almost poetic yet painful reality but balances her story out with the ways in which mental health and addiction can go hand in hand, one often leading to the other and the need to maintain both sobriety and clear mental health is vital to a person’s survival.

Yet the other half of this book rested in the author’s honest look at the practices of the medical center/rehab that she found herself in. The ways in which people approach both addiction and mental health are crucial to a person’s recovery, and the flippant and authoritative approach that some locations take with their patients is a detrimental path that leads to many painful experiences, all of which the author outlines in her book. The imagery and haunting nature of the book that the writing brings to life really captured the emotional and mentally draining nature of the author’s personal experiences.

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The Verdict

Chilling, emotional, and thoughtfully written, author Dianne Corbeau’s “Six Days in Detox” is a must-read memoir and nonfiction read. The fast-paced story and the gripping story of the author’s experiences both internally and externally were both shocking and engaging to read. The emotional weight of the author’s experiences and the open-ended ending to the author’s book will resonate with so many who are also struggling with sobriety and mental health struggles, and provide a desire to improve and engage with others to get the help they need. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

Good-Bye Too Soon by Randi-Lee Bowslaugh Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Randi-Lee Bowlaugh shares the painful realities of loss and addiction as she eulogizes her brother after his loss to addiction in the book “Good-Bye Too Soon”. 

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The Synopsis

Addiction is a rampant mental illness that takes hold of individuals of any age. Brandon was only a teenager when drugs took over his life. The battle raged for decades before he lost.

Randi-Lee shares the truth behind the eulogy. Having a brother with addiction created a fissure and forced the need for boundaries. Stepping away and loving him from a distance was her only way to keep herself safe.

This book goes beyond losing a brother. It delves into risk factors, constructive coping strategies, and a family’s grieving process. Reminding those left behind to forgive ourselves and the person we lost.

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The Review

This was a heartbreaking and honest book on grief, loss, and the painful path of addiction. The author remarkably conveys the emotional rollercoaster that comes with losing someone so close to addiction while also threading through the painful realities of maintaining healthy boundaries and yet desperately clinging to the hope of reuniting with the person that has lost themselves to this mental illness. 

The balance between emotional storytelling and clinical, detailed revelations regarding addiction and mental health concerns was great to see come to life on the page. It kept the reader emotionally invested while showcasing some of the root causes of addiction, the impact on both the addict and those in the addict’s life, and the shocking realities of life while living with addiction as a whole. The way the author was able to showcase the person her brother was outside of the addiction as well was really emotional and heartfelt and made for some compelling reading.

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The Verdict

Thoughtful, heartfelt, and engaging, author Randi-Lee Bowslaugh’s “Good-Bye Too Soon” is a must-read nonfiction memoir on drug dependency, recovery, and the path of loss that readers won’t want to put down. The emotion and heart that the author pours into this book made this a memorable experience that will resonate with so many readers. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Randi-Lee was born and raised in Ontario, Canada and from a young age she had a passion for helping others. She attended Niagara College and graduated at the top of her class from Community and Justice Services after completing her placement at a recovery house for alcohol and drug addictions. Post-graduation she worked at a Native Friendship Centre for two and a half years while pursuing a university education in psychology. Randi-Lee continued working in social services for another four years as an employment counselor until she left to pursue her other passions.

In 2017 Randi published her first book about mental health awareness and from there knew that this was her dream. Since then she has continued writing and expanding the genres that she writes.

Another of Randi-Lee’s passions is kickboxing, which she has been doing for over 10 years. She was a Canadian National Champion in 2015, competed at the World’s kickboxing tournament later that year and in 2016 competed at the Pan-Am games where she received silver in her division. In 2020 she was chosen as one of the coaches for the Ontario Winter Games where she inspired and coached young athletes.

While she isn’t working, she is spending time with her two teenage children and a grand-baby. Randi tries to speak honestly and openly about her struggles with her own mental health and as a parent – wanting to ensure that no one feels alone.

Follow Randi’s YouTube Show Write or Die Show

Follow Randi on TikTok @writeordieshow

Welcome

Unemployable: How I Hired Myself by Alysia Silberg Review 

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Alysia Silberg shares a powerful memoir about escaping a life of poverty and violence in South Africa to become a leading voice in the world of Silicon Valley startups and responsible technology development in her book “Unemployable: How I Hired Myself”.

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The Synopsis

In Unemployable, Alysia Silberg shares her powerful story of survival and success, aided by the great equalizer – technology. Growing up in poverty in South Africa, Alysia experienced violence, abuse, and even a gunshot wound. Through determination and an unwavering commitment to learning, she made her way to America and Silicon Valley, becoming a lover and funder of startups, with a passion for AI.

This “unputdownable” memoir and manifesto serves as a source of inspiration for anyone who has been told, or has told themselves, that they cannot. By embracing our own superpowers, Alysia believes we can unlock our unique brilliance and contribute to the responsible advancement of technology.

In this book, Alysia shares her unique perspective on how to:

  1. Change your mindset from “I can’t” to “I can.”
  2. Embrace learning and growth, even in the face of adversity.
  3. Unearth your unique brilliance and contribute to the responsible advancement of technology.
  4. Harness the potential of AI to create a more equitable and inclusive world while being mindful of its challenges and risks.


Unemployable is not just about Alysia’s personal journey, but about the transformative power of technology and AI as great equalizers. This beautifully crafted memoir will inspire you to defy limitations, embrace your inner brilliance, and change the world responsibly.

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The Review

This was such an incredible blend of memoir and motivational writing. The balance the author found between their personal life and the experiences that helped shape them the career path that the author set herself and the struggles that helped teach the author how to move forward in that path were so inspiring. Getting to hear about the author’s upbringing and the hardships of life in an area of the world rife with crime and violence, and the hope that the author found in her father’s legacy as a Hollywood makeup artist to the stars were very uplifting to read about.

Yet it was the emphasis the author put on not only hope but on the determination it takes to face challenges head-on and the power that resides within us all to overcome any adversity that heads our way and instead achieve great things in spite of those hardships and struggles, that made this such a compelling read. The author finds a way of writing to a multitude of different kinds of readers, using her experiences to showcase how failure doesn’t have to be the end of the road and instead uses her life stories to act as a guide to anyone pursuing their dreams or even starting their own business. 

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The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging, author Alysia Silberg’s “Unemployable: How I Hired Myself” is a must-read nonfiction memoir and motivational guide. The emotional and heartfelt delivery of the author’s backstory and the inspiring themes of hope and perseverance that the author’s professional career not only taught her but gave the reader lessons as well made this a truly great book. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alysia Silberg was born to blaze trails. As the daughter of a Hollywood makeup artist who worked with screen legends like Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, and Marlon Brando, she grew up with a dream of making her own mark in a world far away. 

A math and science prodigy, she nurtured her entrepreneurial instincts while still in grade school, starting her first business, an import-export agency, at age 11.

Today, Alysia is a leading venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, where she mentors tech startups and helps them go public. She is CEO & General Partner of the investment firm Street Global. 

As a thought-and-knowledge leader, Alysia earned acclaim for her groundbreaking online radio show, Global Fireside Chats, bringing together global industry titans to share insights on our fast-changing world. She is a UN Women Empower Women Global Champion, and an international board director with sovereign wealth fund experience. 

“Unemployable, How I Hired Myself” detailing her life story and guide to financial freedom, is Alysia’s first book.

https://www.readunemployable.com/

https://twitter.com/AlysiaSilberg

https://linktr.ee/alysiasilberg

Tales of My Baseball Youth: A Child of the 60’s by Bob Brill Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Bookbaby.com helps independent authors bring their creative vision to the marketplace. Sell eBooks online in the biggest retail stores.

Author Bob Brill shares a short yet powerful memoir on the relationships in his life growing up in the socially changing 1960s, with baseball as the backdrop for many of his stories in his book “Tales of My Baseball Youth: A Child of the 60’s”. 

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The Synopsis

“Tales of My Baseball Youth; A child of the 60’s” is a wonderful compilation of stories about growing up in the socially changing 1960’s. While the title suggests a sports book, “Tales” is actually a book about relationships which just happens to have baseball as a common thread. Bob Brill gives credit to his childhood school teachers, coaches, parents, schoolmates and professional players who made great impressions and left everlasting memories as well as helping shape him from a little boy who loved baseball to a successful and award winning journalist.

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The Review

This was a captivating and heartfelt read. The author did an amazing job of capturing a tone that harkened back to the days of childhood memories, fresh-cut grass, and the crack of a bat hitting a baseball out of the park. The imagery the author’s memories conjured up really spoke to both the time and setting of the book, and did a great job of invoking an emotional response within the reader. 

To me, the heart of this book rested in the relationships and connections the author’s memories and experiences brought to life. The relatability and emotional journey the reader goes on and the people that impacted the author’s life made for some thrilling and captivating storytelling. The way each story touched upon both the relatable moments of growing up and both the happy and sad moments of growing up and our bond to one another were so thoughtfully written out, and the thread of baseball that ran through it all kept the reader invested in the author’s story. 

The Verdict

Memorable, engaging, and thoughtful, author Bob Brill’s “Tales of My Baseball Youth: A Child of the 60’s” is a must-read nonfiction and memoir-style book. The fast pace of the narrative and the heartfelt relatability of the author’s stories will instantly draw readers In, as will the rich connection to baseball and the great American Pastime. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

A native of Pittsburgh, PA and a hardcore Pirates and Steelers fan, Bob began in radio career in 1972 and worked all over the western US, several times in the L-A market. He’s currently a news anchor at CBS Radio LA; KNX 1070 News Radio.

Bob has won multiple broadcast awards including an Edward R. Murrow Award (among others) for anchoring KNX’s storm coverage in 2011.

A baseball historian, Bob writes the very popular weekly column found at http://www.baseballinthe1960s.com. He also is a podcaster who has teamed with former NFL Quarterback Erik Kramer for a weekly Fantasy Football Podcast called Kramer and Brill, which can be found where ever you get your podcasts or at their website http://www.kramerandbrill.com. Both are always posted on Facebook as well as Twitter.

Bob made his mark with the UPI Radio Network when a gunman went crazy in a San Diego fast food restaurant and Bob covered the story. It was his first big break. He later became a UPI National Correspondent and Bureau Chief. He has interviewed presidents, covered Super Bowl games and Hollywood as well as major news stories.

He lives in L-A. He has survived earthquakes and a beating during the 1992 L-A riots while covering the story, which was recorded on audio tape.

Bob is considered to have an excellent voice and has not only done many voice overs and radio spots, he’s starred in television commercials. Bob authored “Fan Letters to a Stripper: A Patti Waggin Tale” from Schiffer Publishing and “NO BARRIER: How the Internet Destroyed the World Economy.” His third book “Al Kabul; Home Grown Terrorist” is sure to be a controversial novel as well as a great read. “Lancer; Hero of the West – The Prescott Affair” is the first in a series of western novels set in the 1880’s, centering on the central figure; Lancer. Lancer is a gun for hire, good guy, who works the West out of Tombstone.

http://www.bobbrillbooks.com/index.html

https://twitter.com/BobBrillLA

The Box Must Be Empty: A Memoir of Complicated Grief, Spiritual Despair, and Ultimate Healing by Marilyn Kriete Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Author Marilyn Kriete shares the painstaking reality of grief and the danger of burying grief for too long in her book “The Box Must Be Empty: A Memoir of Complicated Grief, Spiritual Despair, and Ultimate Healing”.

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The Synopsis

What happens when buried grief rises two decades late, upending the life you’ve built on its coffin? When your old grief seems inappropriate, and your heart wrestles with grief upon grief as you move too many times and lose too many friendships? How do you recover from a devastated marriage, a crushed faith, and an endlessly broken heart? This is the crux of Marilyn Kriete’s crisis. After losing her first great love to cancer, she becomes a Christian, marries Henry, and joins him in a hectic worldwide ministry that leaves little room for personal reflection. When her old grief unexpectedly resurfaces, she’s shocked by the tsunami that rips through their lives. And when intensive counseling fails to bring healing and Henry pens a letter that decimates their churches and spins them out of the fellowship, her battered heart is tested beyond imagination. Exploring delayed and complicated grief in its many disguises—dashed dreams, disenchantment, family troubles, and the guilt of being a former faith leader, now grappling with depression and dismay—Marilyn candidly shares her long journey back to wholeness.

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The Review

This was an emotional and captivating memoir. The author does a really wonderful job of writing in a way that connects to readers who have experienced grief themselves or are survivors of an emotionally draining and complicated event themselves. The author’s story is compelling, touching upon some important themes of grief, loss, and the journey to come to terms with that grief. The imagery and tone the author strikes are both somber and yet hopeful all at once, crafting a memorable story that compels the readers to continue forward with the author as they experience this emotional weight. 

The balance the author found within the context of the book was great to see unfold. From the author’s personal experiences and emotional connections to her past to the impact her grief had on her family and those around her and the importance of faith in recovering from this grief was so profoundly felt. The way the author talks about letting this grief simmer under the surface is something so many people can relate to, as it becomes instinct for many people to hold onto the things that are upsetting or emotionally draining to them and bury them under the weight of life itself. While this may seem like such a powerful tool to help cope, the result is an explosive emotional wave that can consume us far more than the initial grief itself, and the author illustrates this perfectly.

The Verdict

Emotionally driven, captivating, and engaging, author Marilyn Kriete’s “The Box Must Be Empty” is a compelling and heartfelt memoir that paints a vivid picture of the grieving process and the impact unresolved grief can have on a person’s life and those around them. The raw emotions and moving journey the author showcases in her book will resonate with readers long after the book ends, so if you haven’t yet be sure to preorder your copy today or grab the book when it releases on April 4th, 2023! 

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Marilyn Kriete was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada, but she didn’t stay long. After a colorful life spanning four continents and 16 cities, earning her keep as cook, chambermaid, waitress, fisherwoman, missionary, speaker/teacher, tutor, and academic writing editor, Marilyn now lives in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada, with her charitable husband Henry and three demanding cats. Their two grown children were adopted from Mumbai, India, and Athens, Georgia. Her poetry and nonfiction have appeared in The Lyric, Storyteller, The Eastern Iowa Review, The English Bay Review, and Brevity Blog. Her first memoir, Paradise Road, relates the runaway/hippie/bicycle touring odyssey that led to the next chapters of her unconventional story-and material for two more memoirs. Her debut memoir was also named the winner in the non-fiction adventure category of the Book Excellence Awards. The 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards named Paradise Road the winner in the Young Adult Non-Fiction category and a finalist for New Adult Non-Fiction. It was also a finalist for Book Cover Design-Non Fiction. Her nonfiction essay took First Prize in the 2022 Wine Country Writers Festival Writing Contest in British Columbia. Marilyn enjoys hiking, deep talks, word games, documentaries, and other people’s stories and reflections. You can follow her writing journey on MarilynKriete.com.

Light Come Out of the Closet (Memoir of a Gay Soul) by Roger Leslie, Ph.D. Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Roger Leslie, Ph.D., shares an inspiring and emotional memoir about a young man who discovers he is gay and goes on a journey to confront family and religious prejudices to find the loving and accepting God he learned about in an effort to understand himself in the book “Light Come Out of the Closet (Memoir of a Gay Soul)”.

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The Synopsis

When a joyful boy realizes he is gay, he fights against family and religious prejudices to reclaim the God of love he learned about in hopes of discovering what it means to be a gay soul.

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The Review

This was such a moving and heartfelt memoir. The author does an incredible job of capturing the emotional weight of living with a secret that for most would blow up their relationship with their family, as well as with their religion as well. The struggle living under the weight of knowledge that you are something “other” or different from those around you, especially when they are the people you love and care for most, is something so many people will be able to relate to, and the author does a wonderful job of balancing his personal experiences and in the moment thoughts with the overarching theme of self-acceptance and identity the author touches upon.

The author’s writing style was both inviting and thought-provoking, as the book not only touches upon the emotional weight of a gay man coming to terms with his family relationships and his relationship with God, but on the juxtaposition of the Christian faith is focused on love and forgiveness, and yet the oftentimes emotional disconnect that happens within families of faith. The way author uses wit and charm within the writing to help bring relatability to the book and yet infused a deep-seated emotional weight to the experiences that helped the author deal with his coming out and finding his faith once more. 

The Verdict

Memorable, heartfelt, and engaging, author Roger Leslie, Ph.D.’s “Light Come Out of the Closet” is a must-read memoir and LGBTQ+ nonfiction read. The relatability that readers will have with the author’s struggle between their identity and their faith and the struggles to be understood within a regimented family dynamic will resonate so clearly with the audience, and the emotional connection to the author’s story was so profound and moving to dive into. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today and grab your copy when it releases on June 6th, 2023!

Rating: 10/10

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Still, I Cannot Save You: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Love, and Letting Go by Kelly S. Thompson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Kelly S. Thompson shares a painfully emotional yet moving story of facing the past, rebuilding the bonds of sisterhood, and the love that endures in the face of hardships and struggles between sisters in the book “Still, I Cannot Save You: A Memoir of Sisterhood, Love, and Letting Go”. 

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The Synopsis

With honesty, love, and humour, in this moving memoir, Kelly S. Thompson explores her relationship with her older sister, Meghan. Tested by addiction, abuse, and illness, the sisters’ relationship crumbles, only to be rebuilt into an everlasting bond.

Kelly Thompson and her older sister, Meghan, are proof that sisterhood doesn’t always equate to friendship.

Growing up within a military family, the girls were close despite being temperamental opposites–Kelly, anxious and studious, looked to her big sister for comfort, and Meghan, who battled kidney cancer as a toddler, was gregarious and protective. But as she approached adulthood, Meghan spi­ralled into a cocaine and opioid addiction, and Kelly’s relationship with her sister was torn apart.

Their paths diverge as they live their own lives, and it is only when Meghan becomes a mother that she and Kelly tentatively face past hurts and reexamine what sisterhood really means. But their reunion is threatened when Meghan receives a shocking new diagnosis on a day that should be one for celebration. Now, as the family reels at the prospect of the biggest loss imaginable, Kelly and Meghan must share all that they can in the time that they have, using their mutual sense of humour to chart a course through the darkest of days.

At once funny and heartbreaking, Still, I Cannot Save You is a story about addiction, abuse, and tragedy, but above all, it is a powerful portrait of an enduring love between sisters.

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The Review

This was a powerful, emotional read. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the honesty and hardships of her relationship with not only her sister but her family and loved ones as a whole, delving into the complications that addiction had on the sister’s relationship together with gritty imagery and a tense atmosphere that underscored the mental and emotional scars that addiction can have on everyone involved. The rich dynamics between the author and her whole family not only speak to the complexity of the bonds that are tested between family during times of high stress and impending loss but the chemistry that defines each person’s unique relationships as a whole.

The themes of this book were powerfully felt throughout the entire book. Not only did addiction play an internal role in the breakdown of the bonds between the author and her sister, but the hurdles they overcame to rebuild that relationship and the horrific toll that coming to terms with a loved one’s impending death really hit home for me, as this happened a few years ago with my grandmother and I could feel the overwhelming weight of that pain the author touched upon with their moving writing style.

The Verdict

Passionately written, engaging, and truly moving, author Kelly S. Thompson’s “Still, I Cannot Save You” is a must-read memoir and nonfiction book. The thoughtful approach to the themes of this book and the honest and visceral writing style the author takes in bringing these memories to life will not only resonate with many readers but showcase a depth of emotion that will immediately draw the reader in and show the wealth of humanity residing within these chapters. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Kelly S. Thompson is a retired military officer who holds an MFA and a Ph.D. in Creative Writing, and has been published in Chatelaine, Maclean’s, the Globe and Mail, and more. Her debut memoir, Girls Need Not Apply, was named a Globe and Mail Top 100 Book and was an instant bestseller. She works as a mentor for the University of King’s College MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and lives in Nova Scotia with her military spouse and bull terrier. 

https://kellysthompson.com/

https://twitter.com/KellyS_Thompson

The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever by Steve Madden (with Jodi Lipper) Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a free and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Famed designer and businessman Steve Madden, along with Jodi Lipper, dive into the personal history of not only the Madden brand, but the man himself as he works to share everything from his personal trials and tribulations, how he grew his business and even how business tactics have changed in the wake of COIVD-19 in the book “The Cobbler: How I Disrupted an Industry, Fell From Grace, and Came Back Stronger Than Ever”.

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The Synopsis

Everyone knows Steve Madden’s name and his shoes, but few are familiar with his story. Over the past thirty years, Steve Madden has taken his eponymous shoe company from the fledgling startup he founded with a mere $1,100 to a global, multi-billion dollar brand. But Madden’s demons, from his battle with addiction to the financial shortcuts that landed him in prison, are as important to his story as his most iconic shoes. In this raw, intimate, and ultimately inspiring book, Madden holds nothing back as he shares what it took to get here and the lessons he’s learned along the way. From his unconventional hiring strategies to his slavish devotion to product, Madden offers a business perspective that is as unique as his styles.

In The Cobbler, readers are treated to the wild ride through Madden’s rise, fall, and comeback. But they will also walk away uplifted by a man who has owned up to his mistakes and is determined to give back and use his hard-won platform to create positive change. Originally written in 2019, The Cobbler was released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. During and in the aftermath of the pandemic, Madden’s perspective on life and business shifted. This new, updated version includes a prologue and epilogue revealing how Steve Madden the man and the company not only survived, but managed to come back stronger than ever for the second time.

The Review

This was a well-written and powerful memoir meets business nonfiction read. The authors did a brilliant job of capturing a tone of honesty and perseverance in the writing of this book. The history and unique perspective on this particular angle of the fusion industry, as well as the way the industry moved through the 90s and early 2000s, was particularly engaging and remarkable to read about, as it brought about both nostalgia and a firmer understanding of how one of our society’s biggest brands came to be.

Yet it was the author’s vulnerability and self-reflection that really brought the reader into this book’s narrative. The honest way the author delved into everything that happened in his journey, from his humble beginnings to his struggles with addiction, the smell starts to his business, and the impact of the recent pandemic on his understanding of the industry going forward, allowed the reader to feel connected to the author’s experiences and the profound changes he made in life to grow from those experiences.

The Verdict

Captivating, thoughtful, and engaging, authors Steve Madden and Jodi Lipper’s “The Cobbler” is a must-read memoir and business-related nonfiction read of 2023. The insightful and memorable nature of the author’s journey and the experiences that shaped not only an industry but the man behind one of the world’s biggest brands made this a book you won’t want to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Authors

Steve Madden is the founder of Steve Madden Ltd and is world renown for his innovative line of shoes. He started his world-famous brand with only $1,100.00 selling shoes out of the trunk of his car. In 2002 Madden was arrested and served time in federal prison. Madden has devoted his life to charity and saw his business through a multibillion-dollar comeback. Mr. Madden chose self-publishing over traditional publishing to be able to chart his own path as he did within the fashion industry. Look at how that turn out. 

https://www.stevemadden.com/pages/about-steve-madden

Jodi Lipper is a six-time New York Times bestselling writer who partners with high profile experts and celebrities to garner major publishing deals and translate their experiences and expertise into highly effective and marketable books. Jodi has co-written several notable memoirs as well as prescriptive books about business, wellness, and personal development. 

Her clients include iconic shoe mogul Steve Madden, the “father of biohacking” and creator of Bulletproof Coffee Dave Asprey, and Fran Hauser, whose book The Myth of the Nice Girl was named the Best Business Book of 2018 by Audible and was listed by Amazon as One of the Best Business and Leadership Books of the Year.

https://www.jodilipper.com/

Laugh, Cry, Rewind: A Memoir by Judy Haveson Review

On By authoranthonyavinablogIn reviewsLeave a comment

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author Judy Haveson steps forward to share the emotional journey of her life, from the author’s childhood to the birth of her son, and how she has come out on the other side through a series of losses and painful experiences in order to keep on living her life to the fullest in the book “Laugh, Cry, Rewind: A Memoir”.

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The Synopsis

Growing up in 1970s and 80s suburban Houston, Judy Haveson is funny, sarcastic, and fiercely loyal, especially to her family, friends, and big sister, Celia. When she suffers a series of unimaginable traumatic events, her seemingly idyllic childhood comes to a halt, changing her life forever.

In Laugh Cry Rewind , Judy takes readers on her journey of self-discovery, sharing funny, touching, and heartbreaking stories from her childhood all the way to the birth of her son. Her experiences serve as a reminder that while life is not always fair, ultimately, the choice to surrender or keep on living is ours. Her message to others who have experienced loss or tragedy is this: stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. Let life go on, and good things will be waiting for you on the other side of the pain.

The Review

As an older brother, the first and most important thing that stuck out to me was the deep-seated bond the author shares with her older sister. The emotional pull of their story and how her sister influenced her both in childhood and in the years following the tragedy in her life was haunting yet beautiful at the same time. The hopeful tone the author tries to bring out in their narrative was great to see, as it helped by acting as a guiding light out of the darkness that threatened to consume the author in the wake of this tragedy.

The themes of love, loss, and hope were strong in this book. The way the themes blended into the author’s story and kept shining through in natural ways was remarkable to read about. The balance in the author’s personal story set against the backdrop of the 70s and 80s, as well as the honest and personable way of writing the author utilized, made for a compelling and engaging story that readers won’t be able to get enough of.

The Verdict

Poignant, heartfelt, and emotionally driven, author Judy Haveson’s “Laugh, Cry, Rewind: A Memoir” is a must-read nonfiction book. The sense of history and culture through the author’s own background and the rich setting of her life helped elevate this personal story of growth and hope in the wake of tragedy and kept me as a reader emotionally invested and connected as an older brother to a truly remarkable sister myself. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Judy Haveson is a proud Texan who will never lose her southern charm or accent and uses both when the situation absolutely calls for it. Her one-time dream of becoming a journalist was shattered when a professor suggested she pick a new major due to her penchant for obsessive conversation. He claimed she’d be an editor’s nightmare because she wrote as she spoke and never stopped talking. This led her to a career in public relations. Judy’s fixation with reading books and stories about other people’s lives inspired her to write her debut memoir. She currently lives in The Hamptons with her husband, Adam, son, Jack, and beloved Yorkie, Toby.

https://www.judyhaveson.com/